There's a Chayei Adam that says if you're really thirsty, you can make shehakol and drink a cup of water a few minutes before making hamotzee; the initial water is considered part of the meal because you'll have a better appetite if you're not parched. I wonder if that plays in here? I vaguely recall a Frand tape that for dieters who insist on water before a meal, that kedima is good enough?
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ShalomAug 23 '10 at 11:41

Going from the minhag in both Yeshivat Beit El and Yeshivat Nahar Shalom when they break their fasts after tikkunim, the drinks are brought out first, everyone takes and blesses, and then the food is brought out. If it is not "before you" you still need to make a berakha. Some poskim rule this way even in the midst of a seuda(such as the Ben Ish Hai, will find location soon).

Ultimately I think what would be best would be to pick up your drink, make your berakha on that, and then pick up your cookie.

Mechaber b: If the brachos are different, you go by what is generally you favorite (211:1)

Rambam: If the brachos are different, you go by what you want now (211:2)

Mechaber: The above is only true when dealing with brachos of similar specificity, but when one bracha is more specific, the more specific bracha is first. (211:3)

Halacha lemaase: Mezonos is more specific than shehakol and would come first under all circumstances. See the mefarshim in more detail for haetz vs haadama.

[There is a Biur Halacha which cites the Eliya Rabba in the name of the Shela a general practice of people who make a bracha on schnapps before other brachos with more specificity (e.g. haetz). He suggests to their benefit that they really only want the shnapps at first and their desire for other foods is only after the drink. The BH recommends eating the haetz first, nevertheless, since eating after may render the food tafel to the schnapps]

And also someone who wishes to eat a meal, but first wants to drink because he is thirsty, is allowed to do so even though he is saying Shehakol before any other beracha which may be more chashuv - because this is the normal procedure for someone who is thirsty.

So, in short, you are allowed to make a bracha on the cup of water first.

His source appears to be the Sefer פתחי הלכה by Rabbi B. Forst (who is also of The Laws of B'rachos fame). However, I was unable to find this exact case in either of his Seforim. He does however discuss (which is also brought in the Halachos of Brochos by Rabbi Bodner) the general exception to the ordering of brachos in cases where there is a specific reason for changing the order (the example given, if I recall correctly, is having the appetizer before the main meal, where normal brachos rules would dictate otherwise).

I also want to point out that this last novelty is said even in a case where both foods are directly before him. For if not, the rules would allow him to say the bracha on that which is before him, and not require him to go and retrieve the other item.